WASHINGTON  The investigation into who leaked information about a National Security Agency secret wiretapping program on potential terror suspects needs to focus on the motivation behind the leak, a Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said Sunday.

"There are differences between felons and whistleblowers, and we ought to wait 'til the investigation occurs to decide what happened," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told "FOX News Sunday."

The Justice Department on Friday opened an investigation into who leaked the information about the program, sparking debate over its threat to national security and presidential powers versus civil liberties.

The program, first revealed Dec. 16 by The New York Times, has used surveillance to review phone conversations and e-mails inside the United States without court warrants since after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

President Bush defended the program on Sunday, saying it is necessary and legal to prevent future terrorist attacks.

Schumer should first answer why people under his command in the Democrat Senatorial Committee, were able to obtain the personal credit report on Lt Gov. Michael Steele of Maryland before he even announced his bid for the Senate seat of retiring Democrat Senator Sarbanes of Maryland?

7
posted on 01/01/2006 6:23:42 PM PST
by MJY1288
(THE DEMOCRATS OFFER NOTHING FOR THE FUTURE AND THEY LIE ABOUT THE PAST)

Federal law was broken, violated, ignored, when someone released highly classified information. It makes no difference why they broke the law they should be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. They should start by lining up everyone who had access to this information and making them take a polygraph test. Those tests should have started last week.

What about the motivation in his office illegally obtaining the credit records of Lt. Gov. Steele from Maryland. What about the motives of the Democrats in Miranda Gate where they were caught dealing with judgeship's. Their motives were illegal but nothing has ever been done.

Listening to Chuck, it crossed my mind that he and a lot of others already know the leak source, and are concerned now with the fate of the leaker. If the Americans did not agree with the president on this issue (on the need for the surveilance), the democrats would likely be much more smug. But Chuck appeared ready to acknowledge that the leak investigation would find the perp, and it sounded a lot to me that we will find it is someone in the NSA at a lower level who decided on their own that this was more privacy invasion than they could handle, and sought to find a friendly ear. None inside, so they went outside. Just a guess, but time will tell.

According to those officials and others, reservations about aspects of the program have also been expressed by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, the West Virginia Democrat who is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and a judge presiding over a secret court that oversees intelligence matters. Some of the questions about the agencys new powers led the administration to temporarily suspend the operation last year and impose more restrictions, the officials said.

It does seem to suggest that Senator Rockefeller and a judge presiding over a secret court that oversees intelligence matters were sources for this leak, Strata hints. In fact, if Strata is right, Gonzales may already know that, for Strata adds that press reports to the contrary notwithstanding, Judge Robertson, an activist liberal judge, probably didnt resign, but rather was suspended for that very reason.

32
posted on 01/01/2006 6:54:59 PM PST
by FreedomCalls
(It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")

The JD should investigate Schumer since he seems to be up to speed on the leaker/leaker's identy. My suggestion to the RATS is to shut up or your a@@ will be sitting in a chair opposite an investigator. On second thought, keep talking.

Again, you and many others are assuming this was an inside job at NSA or that some Senator or Representative in the know told the NYT.

What's wrong with thinking that it could be a case of old fashioned espionage, conducted by a foreign nation, or possibly even the NYT?

Nothing in principle, but I put my money on the most likely first. And a number of Dems in congress, at State and at the CIA have already demonstrated that they are willing to commit treasonous acts in an effort to bring down this administration. If it smells like Dem crap, it surely isn't chicken soup.

One's personal motive can be subjective. A person could believe they are doing the right thing by leaking the timing of D-Day but they would have still rightly received the death penalty in WWII. People need to go to prison over this.

If he isn't, then he knows who it is and is running interference for him/her. An independent investigator should be on this like stink on a 'Rat. He should announce up front that he will not only be looking for the leaker, but anyone trying to cover up for the leaker.

47
posted on 01/01/2006 7:36:35 PM PST
by Blood of Tyrants
(G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)

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